News: CPC selects new Councillor

Chilbolton Parish Councillors have selected Becky Williams as Councillor, filling the post created by the resignation of Cllr David Griffiths.

Councillor Co-option

Two candidates had put themselves forward: Mrs Williams and Mr Adrian Austin.

Cllr Neil Connor, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Cllr David Hall, asked the candidates to give brief resumés of themselves.

Mrs Williams said that she had lived in Chilbolton for 20 years, raising her children here. She had served on the Village Hall committee, helped run the local pre-school, and during the Covid pandemic had worked in the Village Shop. She said that she now had more time to help the Village.

Mr Austin said that Chilbolton was a beautiful village, of which the residents were custodians. However there had to be a balance, embracing progress. During the pandemic, many people had experienced isolation and digital exclusion. He was keen for full fibre broadband for all homes in the Village. He had previously worked for a multinational company and is a keen gardener.

In a majority vote, Councillors selected Mrs Williams, and she was invited to join them at their meeting.

Cllr Tony Ewer said that he hoped Mr Austin would join the Parish Council’s Open Spaces Committee, “so that we get to know you better.”

Housing Development

Comments following public meeting, 27 Jun 2026

Cllr Neil Connor reported on the public meeting to outline housing options. He that comments from residents during the meeting had been put on the Parish Council Website.

Further comments had been received subsequent to the meeting and he welcomed more public comments and questions, with a deadline of 31 Jul 2026, after which they would be collated on the website. These can be sent to the Clerk.

Chilbolton Community Land Trust

More work had been done on the schema of interaction between CPC and CCLT, and this had now been agreed with Mr Martin Gossling, Chair of CCLT.

The schematic represents parties who have an interest in the development of both affordable and market homes in Chilbolton. These parties include landowners, local authorities, CCLT and the Parish Council

CCLT’s Annual General Meeting is on Thursday 16 Jul 2026 at 7pm in the Village Hall.

Community engagement

Conversations had been held with TVBC on the process of community engagement concerning development options in Chilbolton, and balloting residents on their views.

The Parish Council would continue to be neutral in respect of the development options, but they would need to consider the means of communicating with residents.

TVBC did not want to be seen as co-authors of such communications but had suggested consultants who were experienced in that area. Cllr Connor said it would include digital and paper-based information, with a long enough consultation period.

Cllr Becky Williams observed that there were residents who weren’t on the internet, or who hadn’t been able to attend the meeting. She said that some villagers might need to be contacted by “a knock on the door.”

Mr Peter Collis, who had attended the meeting with TVBC, noted they had said that many people are not on the electoral register, yet CPC needed to know their views.

Issues during the holiday period

During questions from the public, a resident observed that the next CPC meeting wouldn’t be until September. She asked how the Parish Council would deal with a significant issue related to the 75-home plan during the holiday period, such as a referral to the Northern Area Planning Committee.

Cllr Neil Connor said that CPC would call an Extraordinary General Meeting, with relevant materials made available to villagers.

Neighbourhood Development Plan

During Cllr Martin Watson’s report on the work being done to refresh Chilbolton’s Neighbourhood Development Plan, Cllr Tony Ewer said that he thought he was on the Committee conducting it.

Cllr Watson said that it was a Working Group, not a Committee, and that Cllr Ewer was not a member.

Cllr Ewer proposed that, given he had 14 years of experience with the NDP, that he should join the Working Group. Cllr Connor put this to a vote and it was carried by a majority.

During questions from the public, a resident asked when the wording of policy HD1 in the NDP would be reviewed. This specifies the housing scale and mix within Chilbolton, saying:

The mix of any individual development should only be 1-, 2- & 3-bedroom homes including apartments, semi-detached, terraced or bungalows

Cllr Watson said that this would be undertaken within Phase 2 of the review. It could not be done within Phase 1 as this would be regarded a substantial change.

Parochial Church Council

When the meeting discussed correspondence during the month, Cllr Ewer referred to a letter sent by the Chair of CPC, David Hall, to the Parochial Church Council.

He said that he was very concerned about it and that he wanted to “dissociate myself with it, and I want that recorded.”

He added that Cllr Hall had refused to let Mr Andrew Kent, Chair of PCC, ask questions, and that he had made “made ad hominem comments against Mr Kent.”

Science and Technology Facilities Council

Cllr Ewer also raised a number of questions on CPC’s dealings with the Science and Technology Facilities Council, who have raised objections to the 75-home plan, on behalf of the Observatory.

He wanted to know how many meetings had taken place with STFC, when they had happened and who had attended.

Cllr Debbie Collis said that all dealings with STFC had been minuted within the Community Development Committee and been reported to CPC. Those minutes were on the Parish Council website.

Cllr Martin Watson said that he was the only councillor who had been involved, and that STFC had not agreed to any meetings with CPC.

Cllr Collis said that she would produce a summary note explaining it all.

Fire risk

Cllr Sue Larcombe raised the issue of fire risk on the Common and at West Down, following the recent dry weather. She said that “strongly worded” signs should be put on gates to warn visitors of the risk.

She suggested that the Council should invest in fire beaters. Councillors agreed, and discussed how this could be funded, including a grant from TVBC Cllr David Drew.

Cllr Martin Watson said that CPC shouldn’t waste time, and should act quickly.

Open Gardens 2026

Mrs Julie Connor gave a report on Chilbolton Open Gardens 2026 which she and Mrs Jane O’Boyle had organised together.

She said that there had been a great turnout of visitors, and that eleven gardens opened around the Village. The event had raised £2,700 which would be split between the Parish Council Community Benefit Fund and The Countess of Brecknock Hospice.

The event went very smoothly, but improvements were already planned for Open Gardens 2027 including better signage for car parking.

Cllr Neil Connor noted the Parish Council’s thanks to Mrs Connor and Mrs O’Boyle.